Firing mechanism for bolt-action firearm



Jan. 2, 1968 l} T. R. ROBINSON, JR ,8

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BOLT-ACTION FIREARM Filed/ Sept. 1, 1966 24 *5;TIL/OM45 1e Roam/so we 25 a ,3 we 62 W Q? new INVENTOR United StatesPatent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure deals with a searconnection with a firing pin in a firearm, which comprises a part withintegral key and lug formations of which the key formation is inregister with a groove in the firing pin within the bolt sleeve bore andthe lug formation extends through a slot in the bolt sleeve to theoutside of the latter and there has a sear nose, with the part having inthe slot freedom of motion with the firing pin over a certain range toone end of which the lug formation is urged by the operating spring ofthe firing pin, and there being further provisions for locking the keyformation in the groove over a first part of said free-motion range tosaid one end thereof, and the part being with its key formationinsertable and removable through the slot into and from register withthe groove in the firing pin on depressing the latter into a part of thefree-motion range other than said first part thereof.

This invention relates to firearms of bolt-action type in general, andto firing mechanisms of firearms of this type in particular.

The firing mechanisms of firearms of this type conventionally provide afiring pin, a main spring, a bolt sleeve and a cooking piece, with theseparts being customarily preassembled as a unit, referred to convenientlyas a firing unit, to lock the main spring in loaded condition forsubsequent facile assembly of this unit with the breech bolt.customarily, the firing pin extends rearwardly through a bore in thebolt sleeve and the spring is interposed between the forward end of thesleeve and an intermediate shoulder on the pin, with the bore in thesleeve being rearwardly enlarged for fitted reception of the cockingpiece which is secured to the firing pin, in most cases releasably, asby a cross pin, bayonet connection or threading, for example. Inpreassembling these parts, the firing pin is passed through the springand then through the bolt sleeve, whereupon the sleeve is forced furtherover the pin against the spring for preloading the latter in compressionand for projection of the pin beyond the sleeve sufficiently to permitthe application of the cooking piece to and its connection with theprojecting pin.

While these preassembled prior firing units are satisfactory in mostrespects, they do have shortcomings in a few but important respects.Thus, the requirement of enlarging the pin bore in the bolt sleeve andfitting the cocking piece in the enlarged bore not only makes forextensive and rather intricate machining of the sleeve as well as of thecocking piece with its usually depending integral sear lug, but alsomakes it imperative to provide the bore in the sleeve as a through-borein order'to receive the cocking piece and permit its securement to thefiring pin. Accordingly, the bolt sleeve and cocking piece become ratherexpensive items, and the assembled firing unit is also potentiallyhazardous in action in that the through-bore in the sleeve offers a mostdirect leakage path to a shooters face for powder gases from a rupturedprimer, for example. Further, the usual connection between the firingpin and cocking piece either further complicates the machining of theseparts with ensuing further 3,360,878 Patented J an. 2, 1 9% increase oftheir cost, as in the case of a bayonet connection, for example, orrequires special tools and considerable skill in making the connectionbetween these parts under the aggravating force of the preloaded mainspring, as in the case of pinning the parts together, for example.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide for afirearm of this type a preassembled firing unit which is of ruggedconstruction, yet is highly reliable and accurate in its performance forthe longest time, and which above all has none of the aforementionedshortcomings of the prior firing units.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type a firing unit which for its lock in assembled condition andfor movability of the sear lug with the firing pin into its cocked andfiring positions, employs a single master part with key, lug and lockformations, of which the key formation is within the bolt sleevereceived by the firing pin for movement therewith, the lug formationextends through a longitudinal slot in the bolt sleeve to the outsidethereof where it has a sear nose in cooperative relation with atrigger-operated sear, and the lock formation is received in a guidewayin the bolt sleeve in which it locks the master part against removalfrom the pin and sleeve parts. This master part is thus highlyadvantageous not only because of its structural simplicity and low costas well as multiple functions, but also because it eliminates theheretofore rear enlargement of the pin bore in the bolt sleeve and thetherein fitted cocking piece with its sear lug and the attendantshortcomings thereof. Moreover, the merit of this master part is evenenhanced in that it reduces the number of parts of the unit below thatof previous firing units by replacing the heretofore more or lessintricate cocking piece and whatever part or parts are involved in theoperative connection of the cocking piece with the firing pin.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type a firing unit which for the assembly of the aforementionedmaster part with the other parts of the unit merely requires lateralinsertion of the master part through the slot in the bolt sleeve intokeyed relation with the firing pin while temporarily holding the sleeveand pin parts and the main spring overcompressed to an extent at whichthe guideway in the sleeve part is displaced from the lateral entry pathof the lock formation of the master part, so that on subsequent mererelease of the compressed parts and their ensuing expansion to the limitof the slot in the sleeve part the lock formation of the master partwill be received by the aligned guideway in the sleeve part and thuslock the unit for normal operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a firearm ofthis type a firing unit of which the firing pin has for preferred fittedreception of the key formation of the master part a simple milledtransverse groove, and the aforementioned lock formation of the masterpart and its guideway in the bolt sleeve are formed by the key formationof the master part and the pin bore in the bolt sleeve, respectively, bysimply extending the key formation and its receiving groove in thefiring pin so that over the normal operating range of the latter betweenits cocked and firing positions the key formation extends longitudinallypart-way into the pin bore in the bolt sleeve beyond the slot thereinand is shaped to be in substantial formfit with the wall of the pin boreover its extent therein. With this arrangement, the lock of the masterpart in the unit, and hence the lock of the entire unit, is achievedwith the same simple structure and virtually the same simple machiningof the parts with which the key connection of the master part with thefiring pin is achieved.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a firearm ofthis type a firing unit of which the aforementioned master part has onits lug formation also a shoulder for cooperation with the usual camformation on the breech bolt for cocking the firing pin on unlocking thebolt handle from the receiver in usual manner for retraction of thebreech bolt, thereby adding still another function to the multiplefunctions of the master part.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a firearm ofthis type a firing unit in which the pin bore in the bolt sleeve ispreferably and advantageously closed in the rear, yet ready visual ortouch indication of the cocked or non-cocked condition of the firingmechanism may be provided for, if desired, by simply extending the lugformation of the aforementioned master part rearwardly to the outside ofthe usual rear knob formation on the bolt sleeve in a guideway whichpreferably and advantageously is formed by complemental and easilymachined grooves in this knob formation and in the receiver. Further,with this arrangement, the master part, and with it the knob on the boltsleeve, have additional guidance in action of the firing unit, andpowder gases from a ruptured primer also have a quite tortuous rearwardpath and will be largely dissipated internally with no hazard to ashooters face.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type a firing unit of which the aforementioned master part is afiat blank-like part of simple configuration which is readily machinedto fairly close tolerances and, hence, lends itself to efficient andlowcost production.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a firearm embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 1A is another fragmentary longitudinal section through the samefirearm;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the same firearm as seen in thedirection of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section through the firearm as taken on the line3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 1, but showing certainparts of the firearm in different operating positions;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prominent part of the firearm;

FIG. 6 is a reduced section through a prominent operating unit of thefirearm; and

FIG. 7 is a reduced longitudinal section through a firearm embodying theinvention in a modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a bolt-action firearmhaving a receiver 12 secured in usual manner to a stock 14 and havingmounted in its front end a barrel (not shown). Received in a bore 16 inthe receiver for sliding and turning movement therein is a breech bolt18 having at its rear end a cam formation 20 and also a bolt handle 22with which to turn the bolt 18 into lock and release positions as wellas to move the same into its open and closed positions. The breech bolt18 and receiver 12 also have a conventional lug and bayonet-slot typeconnection (not shown) which looks the bolt 18 in its closed position onturning the handle 22 into its full-line position in FIG. 2, and whichreleases the closed bolt for retraction on turning the handle 22 intoits dotted-line position in FIG. 2, with this connection also serving toarrest the bolt against turning from its angular release position on itsretraction into open position and return to its closed position. Thereceiver 12 also has a bottom slot 24 into which extends a mountingbracket 26 for parts, including a pivoted sear 28, a sear spring 30 anda trigger 32, with the bracket 26 being received in an aperture 34 inthe stock 14 and suitably mounted in the latter. The firearm describedso far may be entirely conventional and forms no part of the inventionexcept insofar as it enters into combination therewith.

The firearm 10 further provides a firing unit 36 according to thepresent invention, which comprises a bolt sleeve 38, a firing pin 40, amain spring 42 and a master part 44 (FIGS. 1 and 4). The bolt sleeve 38has a longitudinal bore 46 and is provided with a customary externalthread 48 for its reception in and assembly with an internally threadedrear length of the breech bolt 18. A rear part 50 of the bolt sleeve 38is preferably enlarged and shaped as a knob which in closed position ofthe bolt (FIG. 1) blends tastefully with the receiver and bolt handleand lends these parts a pleasant streamlined appearance. The knobformation 50 of the bolt sleeve 38 and the receiver 12 have in thisinstance machined complemental surfaces 52 and 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) bywhich the part 50 is guided on the receiver into and from bolt closingposition.

Slidably received in the bore 46 of the bolt sleeve 38 is a rear lengthof the firing pin 40 another length of which projects forwardly from thebolt sleeve and is provided with a collar formation 56 (FIG. 1A).Surrounding the firing pin 40 and interposed between the collarformation 56 thereon and the front end of the bolt sleeve 38 is the mainspring 42 which is of compression type and preloaded normally to urgethe firing pin in forward direction and into its firing position inwhich the exemplary tapered flank 58 of the collar formation 56 thereonrests against a similarly tapered shoulder 60 in the breech bolt 18(FIG. 1A).

The master part 44 performs multiple functions one of which isoperatively to connect the firing pin 40 with the sear and triggermechanism. To this end, the master part 44 has integral key and lugformations 62 and 64 of which the key formation 62 serves for connectingthe part 44 with the firing pin 40 for movement with the latter, and thelug formation 64 provides a sear nose 66 on the outside of the boltsleeve and in cooperative relation with the sear 28 (FIG. 1). Moreparticularly, the firing pin 40 is within the bore 46 in the bolt sleeve38 provided with a transverse groove 68 in which the key formation 62 ofthe master part 44 is fittedly received, while the lug formation 64projects through a longitudinal slot 70 in the bolt sleeve to theoutside thereof where it is provided with the sear nose 66 (FIGS. 1 and3). Provisions are also made for locking the master part 44 to thefiring pin 40 in its assembled relation therewith over the action rangeof the firing pin between its cocked and firing positions (FIGS. 1 and2) and over the retraction range of the breech bolt 18 from its closedposition in FIG. 1. To this end, the bolt sleeve 38 is provided with alongitudinal guideway in which is slidably received a lock formation onthe master part 44. Preferably and advantageously, this guideway in thebolt sleeve 38 is formed by part of the bore 46 therein, and the lockformation on the master part 44 is formed by part of the key formation62 thereon. Thus, and as shown in FIG. 1, the key formation 62 has alength 72 which projects forwardly beyond the lug formation 64, and partof this key length 72 is over the action range of the firing pinfittedly received in the sleeve bore 46 (FIGS. 1 and 4) and thus lockedbetween this bore 46 and the groove 68 in the firing pin (see also FIG.3).

The slot 70 in the bolt sleeve 38 is of more than adequate length toafford the lug formation 64 therein of the part 44 the necessary freedomof motion which the latter requires in order to move with the firing pin40 over the action range between its cooked and firing positions (FIGS.1 and 4). Further, the lug formation 64 preferably extends at 74rearwardly beyond the bolt sleeve 38 at least in the cocked condition ofthe firing pin for visual or touch indication of this condition to ashooter. To this end, as well as to afford the master part 44 thenecessary freedom of motion with the firing pin and lock it in keyedrelation with the firing pin over the action range of the latter, themaster part described so far is of general Z-shape with opposite arms aand a and a connecting yoke y (FIG. 1), of which arm a forms the keyformation 62 and the yoke y and other arm a form the lug formation 64,with the yoke y being that part of the lug formation which is within theslot 70 in motion-limit relation with the opposite ends 76 and 78 of thelatter, and arm a being that part of the lug formation which providesthe sear nose 66 and also extends rearwardly beyond the bolt sleeve inthe cocked condition of the firing pin. This arm a of the master part 44is preferably guided between the slot 70 in the bolt sleeve 38 and therear end thereof in a simple groove 80 in the sleeve which is prefrablycontinuous with and of the same width as the slot 70 (FIGS. 1 and 2),and this arm a is preferably further guided in a groove 82 in thereceiver 12 which is complemental to the groove 80.

The master part 44 preferably and advantageously has another follower,formation 84 which is in cooperative relation with the cam formation 20on the breech bolt 18 for cocking the firing pin into a position like orsimilar to that in FIG. 1 on turning the bolt handle 22 into itsdotted-line position in FIG. 2. It is in this position of the bolthandle that the bolt 18 is released for retraction from its closedposition to eject a fired cartridge from the receiver and admit a freshcartridge thereinto, in this example from a magazine 86 (FIG. 1). Thebolt 18 will, on its subsequent return into closed position, advance thefresh cartridge into the firing chamber (not shown) and bring the searnose 66 on the master part 44 into engagement with the then cocked sear28 for retaining the firing pin in its firing position (FIG. 1) when onsubsequent turning of the bolt handle 22 into its full-line bolt-lockingposition (FIG. 2) the cam formation 20 on the bolt is turned out ofregister with the follower formation 84 of the part 44 (FIG. 1). Thefirearm is then ready for firing the cartridge on pulling the trigger32, with the cam formation 20 on the bolt 18 being then out of the pathof the follower formation 84 of the part 44 on its movement with thefiring pin 40 into firing position (FIG. 4). The follower formation 84of the master part 44 is then in position (FIG. 4) for renewedcooperation with the cam formation 20 on the bolt 18 in recocking thefiring pin 40 on turning the bolt handle 22 into its dotted-lineboltreleasing position to start another loading cycle.

The firing unit 36 has many important advantages structure-wise andcost-wise. Thus, its structure is exceedingly simple and requires aminimum of simple machine operations of its parts. In this connection,the bolt sleeve 38 is of particularly simple construction and requiresfor its operative coordination with the firing pin 44 and sear nose 66merely the bore 46 of uniform diameter and the slot 70 and groove 80 ofuniform width. The firing pin 40 requires for its coordination with thesear nose 66 merely the transverse groove 68. The master part 44' isalso an exceedingly simple piece of uniform thickness and simple shape(see also FIG. 5) which may readily be machined from an original blankin a minimum number of operations, with all but three surfaces of thispart being plane. Insofar as the preferably coextensive followerformation 84 and forwardly extending length 72 of the key formation 62of the part 44 and their curved joining surface 88 are concerned, thesemay readily be formed by transversely slotting the original part blankin a milling operation, whereupon the surface 90 of the key length 72facing the follower formation 84 is simply turned into part-circularshape of the diameter of the bore 46 in the bolt sleeve 38 for itsform-fit therewith (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). Also, the preferably roundedfollower surface 92 of the follower formation 84 of the master part 44is obtained by simple machining.

The master part 44 of uniform thickness will, by virtue of its slidingfit in the slot 70 and groove 80 in the bolt sleeve 38 and in the groove82 in the receiver 12, also effectively seal the rear of the sleeve andreceiver against leakage into a shooters face of powder gases from a.ruptured primer which, instead, will harmlessly be dissipated within thereceiver. To the latter end also, the bore 46 in the bolt sleeve 38 ispreferably closed at the rear, as shown. Also, the follower formation 84of the master part 44 is preferably arranged to be in sliding fit withthe bolt sleeve 38 (FIGS. 1 and 4) for its additional lock to the boltsleeve 38 and to the firing pin 40 over the action range of the latteras well as over the motion range of the breech bolt 18 into and from itsclosed position. The arrangement of the follower formation 84 of themaster part 44 in sliding fit with the bolt sleeve 38 further adds tothe rectilinear guidance of the master part in its motion with thefiring pin 40, whereby on cooking the firing pin against the main spring42 through cooperation between the cam formation 20 on the breech boltand the follower formation 84 of the master part, any twist forces willlargely, if not entirely, be avoided in the master part. To the latterend also, the parallel side walls 94 of the transverse groove 68 in thefiring pin are inclined to the bottom wall 96 thereof in such wise thatthe rearmost sidewall 94 and the bottom wall 96 form an acute anglepointing to the rear end of the bolt sleeve 38 (FIG. 1).

The firing unit 36 is also easily assembled and locked in its assembledcondition (FIG. 6) for its further facile assembly with the breech bolt18 and the rest of the firearm. Thus, in assembling the parts of thefiring unit 36, the main spring 42 is slipped over the firing pin 40,whereupon the rear end of this pin is, against the compression of thespring 42, introduced into the bore 46 in the bolt sleeve 38 on firstturning the pin with its transverse groove 68 facing in the direction ofthe slot in the bolt sleeve 38. The spring 42 is then resting on thefront end of the bolt sleeve 38 and will be increasingly compressed asthe firing pin is introduced deeper into the bore in the bolt sleeveuntil the groove 68 in the pin is in full register with the slot 70 inthe bolt sleeve, whereupon the master part 44 is with its key formation62 inserted through the slot 70 into fitted reception in the groove 68in the firing pin. The firing pin is then released, whereupon the parts38 and 40 will under the force of the preloaded main spring 42 expand,in the course of which the projecting key length 72 of the master part44 will axially enter the bore in the bolt sleeve until the surface 88joining this key length and the follower formation 84 comes to restagainst the adjacent end 76 of the slot 70 to stop the parts 38 and 40against further expansion and also lock all parts of the assembledfiring unit 36 against disassembly. The slot 70 in the bolt sleeve 38 isaccordingly of sufficient length to permit depression of thespringloaded firing pin 40 into the bore 46 in the bolt sleeve until thetransverse groove 68 in the pin is in full register with the slot 70 inthe bolt sleeve for the insertion of the master part, as well as itsremoval when required, through this slot. Ready assembly of the parts ofthe firing unit 36 and their lock in assembled condition by the masterpart 44 is thus another important feature of the present invention. Inthe course of assembling the firing unit 36 with the breech bolt 18, bysimply threading the former into the latter, the shoulder 58 on thefiring pin 40 will come to rest against the corresponding shoulder 60 inthe breech bolt (FIG. 1A) whereupon the firing pin and the master partwill be backed up in the bolt sleeve until the firing pin assumes thefiring position in FIG. 4 at the conclusion of the assembly of thefiring unit with the breech bolt, as will be readily understood. It isthus apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4 that the action range of the firing pinbetween its cocked and firing position lies within, but is spaced fromboth ends of, the free-motion range of the firing pin and master partrelative to the bolt sleeve when the firing unit 36 is non-assembledwith the breech bolt (FIG. 6).

While in the described exemplary firearm 10 the lug formation '64 of themaster part 44 extends in the cocked condition of the firing pinrearwardy beyond the bolt 7 sleeve 38, FIG. 7 shows a modified firearmin which the lug formation 64a of the master part 44a is shortened andhidden from view, with the bolt sleeve 38a having at its rear end a.rib-like formation f8 which is received with a sliding fit in the groove82a in the receiver 12a.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestric ive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm, having a longitudinallybored bolt sleeve with opposite ends and a longitudinal slot betweensaid ends and leading to said bore; a firing pin having a length with atransverse groove slidable in said sleeve bore; preloaded spring meansurging said pin in firing direction; a part having integral key and lugformations, of which said key formation is in register with said groovefor movement of said part with said pin, and said lug formation extendsthrough said slot to the outside of said sleeve and there has a searnose, with said lug formation having in said slot freedom of motion withsaid pin over a certain range and being by said spring means urgedagainst one end of said slot to hold said pin at one end of said range;and means locking said key formation in said groove over a first part ofthe free-motion range of said pin extending to said one end thereof, andsaid part is with its key formation insertable and removable throughsaid slot into and from register with said groove on depressing said pininto a part of its free-motion range other than said first part thereof.

2. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 1, in which saidlocking means provide a guideway in said sleeve in the direction of saidbore therein, and a lock formation on said part projecting into andguided in said way over said first part of the free-motion range of saidpin, but being retracted from said guideway over the remaining part ofthe free-motion range of said pin for insertability and removability ofsaid part.

3. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm, having a longitudinally boltsleeve with front and rear ends and a longitudinal slot between saidends and leading to said bore; a firing pin slidable in said sleeve boreand projecting forwardly from said front sleeve end and having atransverse groove in said bore; preloaded spring means urging said pinin forward direction; and a part having integral key and lug formations,of which said key formation is in register with said groove for movementof said part with said pin and said lug formation extends through saidslot to the outside of said sleeve and there has a sear nose, said lugformation in said slot is of shorter longitudinal extent than the latterto have freedom of motion with said pin over a certain range to theforward end of which said lug formation is urged by said spring means, alength of said key formation shorter than said free-motion rangeprojecting forwardly beyond said lug formation in said slot and beingslidably received in said sleeve bore and thereby lock in said grooveover a corresponding length of said free-motion range from said forwardend thereof, and said slot being of sufficient longitudinal extent topermit forcing said pin against said spring means and within saidfree-motion range into a position in which said groove is in fullalignment with said slot for insertability and removability of said partthrough said slot into and from keyed relation with said pin.

4. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidpart is a longitudinal fiat blank-like piece of uniform thickness, andthe width of said slot in said sleeve is substantially equal to thethickness of said piece.

5. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidpart is a longitudinal fiat blank-like piece of uniform thickness and ofgeneral Z-shape with opposite arms and a connecting yoke, of which oneof said arms forms said key formation and the other arm and yoke formsaid lug formation, with said other arm being provided with said searnose.

6. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 5, in which saidsleeve has in its outer circumference a longitudinal groove in line withsaid slot and extending from the latter to said rear sleeve end, andsaid other arm is received with a sliding fit in said longitudinalgroove.

'7. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidgroove in said pin has a bottom surface and parallel side surfaces soinclined to said bottom surface that said side surface nearest said rearsleeve end forms with said bottom surface an acute angle.

8. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidsleeve bore is closed at said rear sleeve end.

9. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidlug formation of said part has on the outside of said sleeve also afollower shoulder adapted for cooperation with a cocking cam of a breechbolt.

10. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidpart is a longitudinal fiat blank-like piece of uniform thickness havinga transversely slotted forward end to form spaced prongs on said pieceof which one prong constitutes said length of the key formation, and theother prong constitutes part of said lug formation on the outside ofsaid sleeve and is in sliding engagement with the latter substantiallyover said length of the freemotion range for additionally looking saidkey formation in said groove.

11. A firing unit for a bolt-action arm as in claim 10, in which saidother prong has a forward follower end adapted for cooperation with acooking cam of a breech bolt.

12. A firing unit for a bolt-action firearm as in claim 3, in which saidlug formation of said part has on the outside of said sleeve a shoulder,and said sleeve has an external thread for its assembly with a breechbolt, and said unit further comprises a breech bolt assembled with saidsleeve and turnable relative to the latter into bolt release and lockpositions, said bolt having stop means for said firing pin in firingposition and a formation for cooperating with said shoulder in cammingsaid pin into cocked position and for releasing it for movement in saidforward direction into firing position, with the action range of saidpin between its cooked and firing position being within but shorter thansaid free-motion range length and spaced from both ends of the latter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,013,355 12/1961 Weatherby.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

